Who’s Your Money On? Falcons Predict The 2016-2017 NBA Season

  

October has passed. November has begun. So long baseball, hello basketball. Put away the peanuts and cracker jacks, and bring on the foam fingers and buzzer beaters — the NBA is back.

For the next six months America has a new past time: hoops. The NBA is not the easiest league to predict. Who could have foreseen the Warriors blowing a 3-1 lead in last year’s Finals? Nevertheless, The Talon sought out some of CB’s most esteemed basketball minds to get a handle on how the season will unravel.

First up is D-Rose diehard and newly converted NY Knicks fan, Brian Jose (‘17) aka “Brian A. Smith”. Brian foresees:

Sacramento Kings record: 40-42

Kings’ Season in 3 words: “Short, yet again”

Western Conference Prediction:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Portland Trail Blazers
5. Houston Rockets
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
8. Utah Jazz

Western Conference Champion: Spurs

Eastern Conference Prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Chicago Bulls
4. New York Knicks
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Boston Celtics
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Miami Heat

Eastern Conference Champion: Cavs

Regular Season MVP: Damian Lillard

Finals: Spurs over Cavs

Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard

The biggest surprise will be… Spurs winning the ‘ship.

The biggest disappointment will be… Warriors losing in the Western Conference Finals.

One bold prediction: Kawhi Leonard wins defensive player of the year for 3rd consecutive season.

He’s not a ginger, he’s strawberry blonde. Who else but “NBA expert analyst” Peter Levis (‘17) with his thoughts on the season ahead.

Sacramento Kings record: 43-39

Kings’ Season in 3 words: “Lots to prove”

Western Conference Prediction:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Houston Rockets
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Sacramento Kings

Western Conference Champion: Golden State Warriors

Eastern Conference Prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Boston Celtics
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Washington Wizards

Eastern Conference Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular Season MVP: Russell Westbrook

Finals: Warriors over Cavs

Finals MVP: Klay Thompson

The biggest surprise will be… the Timberwolves.

The biggest disappointment will be… the Knicks.

One bold prediction: Kings snag the 8th seed in the West.

The finest lifeguard in East Sac, the one, the only… Sam “The Big Salmon” Clark (‘17). The senior predicts, among other things, an impressive season for the Kings.

Sacramento Kings record: 45-37

Kings’ Season in 3 words: “Demarcus, calm down”

Western Conference Prediction:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Los Angeles Clippers
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Portland Trail Blazers
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
6. Houston Rockets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Utah Jazz

Western Conference Champion: San Antonio Spurs

Eastern Conference Prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Toronto Raptors
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Milwaukee Bucks

Eastern Conference Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular Season MVP: Russell Westbrook

Finals: Cavs over Spurs

Finals MVP: Lebron James

The biggest surprise will be… Kings win 45 games

The biggest disappointment will be… the Golden State Warriors

One bold prediction: Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo will be a top 5 player

A wide receiver on the gridiron and a shooting guard on the court, Matt “Never Wrong” Marengo (‘17) weighs in next on how he thinks the NBA season will go down.

Sacramento Kings record: 40-42

Kings’ Season in 3 words: “Build around Boogie”

Western Conference Prediction:

1. Golden State Warriors
2. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Utah Jazz
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Houston Rockets

Western Conference Champion: Golden State Warriors

Eastern Conference Prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Boston Celtics
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. New York Knicks
8. Milwaukee Bucks

Eastern Conference Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular Season MVP: Anthony Davis

Finals: Warriors over Cavs

Finals MVP: Kevin Durant

The biggest surprise will be… the Pistons.

The biggest disappointment will be… the Bulls missing the playoffs.  

One bold prediction: Joel Embiid wins Rookie of the Year

The premier source of knowledge on campus, The Talon laces up and makes some sure to be spot on predictions.

Sacramento Kings record: 38-42

Kings’ Season in 3 words: “Please trade Rudy”

Western Conference Prediction:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Portland Trail Blazers
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Houston Rockets  
7. Utah Jazz
8. Memphis Grizzlies

Western Conference Champion: San Antonio Spurs

Eastern Conference Prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Boston Celtics
4. Detroit Pistons
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. New York Knicks

Eastern Conference Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular Season MVP: Russell Westbrook

Finals: Spurs over Cavs

Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard

The biggest surprise will be… Utah Jazz.

The biggest disappointment will be… the Golden State Warriors.

One bold prediction: Demarcus Cousins picks up 20 technical fouls.